Slow Cooker Guinness Beef Stew

Now that Valentine’s Day and Mardi Gras have both passed, the next logical holiday or event to think about is St Patty’s Day – right? I’ve been sitting back brainstorming and researching possible recipes to share. We’re not a traditional Irish household. Okay, we’re barely Irish. I’m sure somewhere in our ancestry there is some Irish blood but not much of it. Who cares when we’re talking about holidays though. We’re skipping the traditional route of corned beef and cabbage and going straight to a nice hearty stew.

This stew is an adaptation of a basic beef stew I made ages ago. I kicked it up with additional flavor through different spices and veggies… and of course Guinness. Beef stew takes a bit more prep work than other recipes but the end results is worth it. I’ve been asked before, why do you cook your meat before adding to the slow cooker? In this dish, it’s all about the flavor. Browning your meat will give added depth to the dish. It’s not a necessary step, so if you are short on time feel free to skip this step.